Monitoring house current draw?
 

I'd like to be more aware of the current draw in my house. This could help
me locate appliances I forgot to turn off, or device that draw large current
even when turned off, or hidden current leakage.

The easiest way is probably to add some sort of meter to the main electrical
panel. However I don't feel like rewiring the panel for this.

Are there circuit breaker with built-in amp meter? I guess the meter would
have to be very small. If such thing exists it would be the simplest
solution. Or it could transmit the reading via powerline (x10 or insteon)
that can be read with a PC interface.

Monitoring house current draw?
 

On Apr 24, 12:51�pm, "peter" wrote:
I'd like to be more aware of the current draw in my house. This could help
me locate appliances I forgot to turn off, or device that draw large current
even when turned off, or hidden current leakage.

The easiest way is probably to add some sort of meter to the main electrical
panel. However I don't feel like rewiring the panel for this.

Are there circuit breaker with built-in amp meter? I guess the meter would
have to be very small. If such thing exists it would be the simplest
solution. Or it could transmit the reading via powerline (x10 or insteon)
that can be read with a PC interface.

a clamp on ampmeter is one approach...........

Monitoring house current draw?
 

Monitoring house current draw?
 

On Apr 24, 11:51*am, "peter" wrote:
I'd like to be more aware of the current draw in my house. This could help
me locate appliances I forgot to turn off, or device that draw large current
even when turned off, or hidden current leakage.

The easiest way is probably to add some sort of meter to the main electrical
panel. However I don't feel like rewiring the panel for this.

Are there circuit breaker with built-in amp meter? I guess the meter would
have to be very small. If such thing exists it would be the simplest
solution. Or it could transmit the reading via powerline (x10 or insteon)
that can be read with a PC interface.

What you want to do is an audit of your use, there is a 100$ or so
device that just clamps on your main meter and I think by RF it sends
what the use is to what looks like a thermostat sized unit. A 25$ Kill-
a- Watt meter which is very accurate you can use for whatever plugs
into the wall, it measures amp, watts, Va, Hz, volt, used over time so
you can accuratly figure out what your refrigerator uses it will tell
you how many watts is used in say 100 hours. A clamp on meter is good
to find any panel shorts, but best is one that goes to .01 amp and box
stores dont have them that go that low unless you spend alot, A 35$
greenlee at your electric supply store is good.

Monitoring house current draw?
 

On Apr 24, 2:40*pm, Buy1get1free wrote:
On Thu, 24 Apr 2008 16:51:41 GMT, "peter" wrote:
I'd like to be more aware of the current draw in my house. This could help
me locate appliances I forgot to turn off, or device that draw large current
even when turned off, or hidden current leakage.

The easiest way is probably to add some sort of meter to the main electrical
panel. However I don't feel like rewiring the panel for this.

Are there circuit breaker with built-in amp meter? I guess the meter would
have to be very small. If such thing exists it would be the simplest
solution. Or it could transmit the reading via powerline (x10 or insteon)
that can be read with a PC interface.

http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/w...roduct_6970_20...

You can find it alot cheaper on ebay

Monitoring house current draw?
 

On Thu, 24 Apr 2008 16:51:41 GMT, "peter" wrote:

I'd like to be more aware of the current draw in my house. This could help
me locate appliances I forgot to turn off, or device that draw large current
even when turned off, or hidden current leakage.

The easiest way is probably to add some sort of meter to the main electrical
panel. However I don't feel like rewiring the panel for this.

Are there circuit breaker with built-in amp meter? I guess the meter would
have to be very small. If such thing exists it would be the simplest
solution. Or it could transmit the reading via powerline (x10 or insteon)
that can be read with a PC interface.


http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/w...&ci_sku=457007

Monitoring house current draw?
 

Buy1get1free wrote in
:

On Thu, 24 Apr 2008 16:51:41 GMT, "peter" wrote:

I'd like to be more aware of the current draw in my house. This could
help me locate appliances I forgot to turn off, or device that draw
large current even when turned off, or hidden current leakage.

The easiest way is probably to add some sort of meter to the main
electrical panel. However I don't feel like rewiring the panel for
this.

Are there circuit breaker with built-in amp meter? I guess the meter
would have to be very small. If such thing exists it would be the
simplest solution. Or it could transmit the reading via powerline (x10
or insteon) that can be read with a PC interface.


http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/w...duct_6970_2003
43851_200343851?cm_ven=Aggregates&cm_cat=Google&cm _pla=Electrical%2C%20
Electrical%20Tools&cm_ite=457007&ci_src=14110944&c i_sku=457007

You can also call your power company. In VT, they would send you one to
use for a month and even sent you a postpaid box to return it. Of course,
had to leave credit card info in case you didn't return it.

Monitoring house current draw?
 

"peter" wrote in message
news:xU2Qj.6869$i45.1545@trndny01...
I'd like to be more aware of the current draw in my house.

Just step outside and observe your electric meter. If's the old style
electro-mechanical type you just take your watch and measure how many
revolutions the "wheel" makes in, say, 15 second. Write that down. If
you look carefully, you might find a number on the meter that converts
revolution to energy.

If you have a 100% electronic meter it should cycle around with one display
showing instant energy consumption.

Otherwise you have to use a current transformer (a clamp on ampmeter
includes a CT) and an AC ampmeter.


** Posted from http://www.teranews.com **

Monitoring house current draw?
 

On Apr 25, 1:19*am, "John Gilmer" wrote:
"peter" wrote in message

news:xU2Qj.6869$i45.1545@trndny01...

I'd like to be more aware of the current draw in my house.

Just step outside and observe your electric meter. * If's the old style
electro-mechanical type you just take your watch and measure how many
revolutions the "wheel" makes in, say, 15 second. * Write that down. * If
you look carefully, you might find a number on the meter that converts
revolution to energy.

If you have a 100% electronic meter it should cycle around with one display
showing instant energy consumption.

Otherwise you have to use a current transformer (a clamp on ampmeter
includes a CT) and an AC ampmeter.

** Posted fromhttp://www.teranews.com**

If in North America one normally has two 115 volt 'legs' that must be
measured to determine the current draw.
For example one may at any one time have lights and apparatus switched
on that are on leg A. Then at perhaps other times circuits that are on
leg B. So both have to be measured/recorded.
Heavier 230 volt appliances, such as clothes dryers, cooking stoves
and electric heat use leg A and leg B. So the current could be
measured twice!
The electrcity meter does this on behalf of the power utility.
Trying to measure current without using the proper (and code
compliant) apparatus sounds like a rather useless exercise?
maybe the simplest is read the meter and/or invest in one of those
devices (battery powered AIUI) that clamp onto the meter and transmit
information to a battery powered unit inside the house.
Congratulate the OP on cultivating an awareness of which appliances
use most power and when they are on; but some so called 'economies'
are meaningless.
For example many homes here use electric heating; so that the more
'efficient' appliances or CFL lamps that today do not 'waste' as much
electricity as heat do not contribute to home heating. As a
consequence electric heating has to operate a little more in order to
warm the house so the same amount of kilowatt hours are used, whether
indirectly through 'inefficient' appliances/lights or directly through
electric heating.

Monitoring house current draw?
 

On Apr 26, 6:05*pm, "Paul" wrote:
Google - "cent a meter"

I use these in my student rental units so tenants can see how much each
appliance, light, etc. is using and adjust there usage for best economy.

"terry" wrote in message

...
On Apr 25, 1:19 am, "John Gilmer" wrote:





"peter" wrote in message

news:xU2Qj.6869$i45.1545@trndny01...

I'd like to be more aware of the current draw in my house.

Just step outside and observe your electric meter. If's the old style
electro-mechanical type you just take your watch and measure how many
revolutions the "wheel" makes in, say, 15 second. Write that down. If
you look carefully, you might find a number on the meter that converts
revolution to energy.

If you have a 100% electronic meter it should cycle around with one
display
showing instant energy consumption.

Otherwise you have to use a current transformer (a clamp on ampmeter
includes a CT) and an AC ampmeter.

** Posted fromhttp://www.teranews.com**

If in North America one normally has two 115 volt 'legs' that must be
measured to determine *the current draw.
For example one may at any one time have lights and apparatus switched
on that are on leg A. Then at perhaps other times circuits that are on
leg B. So both have to be measured/recorded.
Heavier 230 volt appliances, such as clothes dryers, cooking stoves
and electric heat use leg A and leg B. So the current could be
measured twice!
The electrcity meter does this on behalf of the power utility.
Trying to measure current without using the proper (and code
compliant) apparatus sounds like a rather useless exercise?
maybe the simplest is read the meter and/or invest in one of those
devices (battery powered AIUI) that clamp onto the meter and transmit
information to a battery powered unit inside the house.
Congratulate the OP on cultivating an awareness of which appliances
use most power and when they are on; but some so called 'economies'
are meaningless.
For example many homes here use electric heating; so that the more
'efficient' *appliances or CFL lamps that today do not 'waste' as much
electricity as heat do not contribute to home heating. As a
consequence electric heating has to operate a little more in order to
warm the house so the same amount of kilowatt hours are used, whether
indirectly through 'inefficient' appliances/lights or directly through
electric heating.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Paul I couldnt get a link

Monitoring house current draw?
 

There is this glass enclosed device called an electric meter generally
on the outside of your house where the electric wires come into your
house. It often has a 4 or 5 inch diameter wheel inside that spins
around based on the amount of electric you are using at that moment.
The faster it spins the more current (power) you are using.

Additionally there are also 4 or 5 pointers on the unit that display
the number of amp/hours used since the meter was installed.
If you write down the numbers the pointer is pointing to (always the
smaller number) and compare it to the positions in an hour or week,
the difference is how many amp-hours you have use it that time frame.

If you have a digital meter, just write down the number and compare


On Thu, 24 Apr 2008 16:51:41 GMT, "peter" wrote:

I'd like to be more aware of the current draw in my house. This could help
me locate appliances I forgot to turn off, or device that draw large current
even when turned off, or hidden current leakage.

The easiest way is probably to add some sort of meter to the main electrical
panel. However I don't feel like rewiring the panel for this.

Are there circuit breaker with built-in amp meter? I guess the meter would
have to be very small. If such thing exists it would be the simplest
solution. Or it could transmit the reading via powerline (x10 or insteon)
that can be read with a PC interface.

Monitoring house current draw?
 

maybe the simplest is read the meter and/or invest in one of those
devices (battery powered AIUI) that clamp onto the meter and transmit
information to a battery powered unit inside the house.

It just occurs to me, my power company uses radio AMR to read my meter.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automatic_meter_reading

Are there receives I can buy to receive the same signal?